Sebastian arrives at the rear entrance of the Mare. A large tadpole is parked outside of the cargo bay. Mounds of sand fill the corners around each bay door, dragged in from dusty shipments that have crossed through the desert. Sebastian notes a significant increase in the amount of nicotine pods littered around the cooks’ entrance. The colorful pods dot the sandy asphalt like shells on a beach. Or like bones littered outside a wolves’ den.
It is barely a quarter past ten and the ship is already sinking. Chefs weave around the counter corners, carrying pots and pans of hot food precariously. Stovetops flare as pans blaze brightly. The counters and floors are covered in the debris of a morning-long struggle. Sebastian shakes his head. Terrorists just destroyed a town. Why is everyone going out to eat? He quickly realizes his irony—if he weren’t here, he’d be another restaurant’s patron just the same.
"Mr. Moreno! Come here!" Polard’s voice booms from across the kitchen.
Sebastian feels the life leave his body. He walks over to Polard.
"I need you to take care of something for me," Polard says as Sebastian approaches.
"Should I change into—"
"No no. Not after that disaster last night. No. I need you to check on a delivery." Polard shakes his head.
Delphine approaches the two of them.
"Oh good. You’re here. I need you and Mr. Moreno to take care of something," Polard says flatly.
He picks up a tablet and taps through a few screens. Polard’s eyes never leave the screen, but his attention partially returns to Sebastian and Delphine.
"Damn this lockdown. Our next shipment of protein is stuck at a checkpoint outside of town. It hasn’t even made it to the wall yet. You two have hardly been chefs this past week, so I need you to play delivery drivers today." Chef Polard explains.
Sebastian is confused by the request.
"It’s not coming in through the port?" He asks.
"Obviously not," Chef Polard taps the screen a few more times. "Now, the tadpole’s fridge may have malfunctioned. The cargo includes a batch of abalone lobster. If it’s been exposed to the desert heat, then we’ve lost next week’s house special. You need to go and check on the state of our cargo."
Sebastian’s confusion becomes frustration. Is this seriously what he was called in for? As if he can sense Sebastian’s anger, Polard looks up from his tablet for the first time.
"Go on. The tadpole is in the back. The keys are in the glove compartment. You should be done with this within the hour." He orders dismissively.
"Yes, chef." Sebastian says.
Delphine grunts. Polard briskly walks away, his eyes still on the tablet screen. Sebastian looks over at Delphine. He hadn’t noticed it before, but Delphine is looking rough.
"So… how did the rest of your night go?" Sebastian asks.
Delphine smiles. "I don’t remember."
Sebastian laughs. Delphine joins in the laughter but stops herself when she begins to gag.
"Alright alright. You okay?" Sebastian asks.
"No. Let’s go." Delphine clumsily walks towards the exit.